Why Muttaqi’s Deoband Visit Signals Taliban’s Shift Toward India, Away From Pakistan | Exclusive

Afghanist. (PTI)

Taliban’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is expected to visit Deoband, the birthplace of the Deobandi school of thought, during his week-long India visit in a strategic move laden with symbolism. While it may appear as a religious pilgrimage, sources both in the Taliban leadership and New Delhi confirmed that the visit carries significant geopolitical weight.

This is the first ministerial-level visit from Kabul to New Delhi since the Taliban assumed power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

Sources within the Taliban said Deoband is being viewed as a spiritual diplomacy hub—one that could serve as a neutral, culturally rooted ground for building ties with India.

For decades, Pakistan has projected itself as the custodian of Deobandi Islam, particularly due to its historic support for Taliban factions. Muttaqi’s visit, however, is being interpreted as a direct challenge to that narrative, asserting that the intellectual and spiritual heritage of the Taliban lies in India, not Pakistan.

From New Delhi’s perspective, the visit represents a soft power opportunity to engage with the Taliban through shared religious heritage, humanitarian dialogue, and cultural understanding. India’s security establishment views Deoband as a stabilising bridge—a unique tool of influence that allows for dialogue without formal recognition of the Taliban regime, maintaining diplomatic nuance on the global stage.

In a broader context, the Taliban leadership is increasingly seeking foreign policy diversification, actively engaging with Russia, China, Iran, and now India, in a bid to lessen dependency on Pakistan. Muttaqi’s visit to Deoband is just the latest manifestation of this strategic pivot.

Whether this leads to a rebalancing of power in the region remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Taliban is redrawing its diplomatic map and India is now part of it.

Muttaqi’s trip, at the invitation of India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar, will last until October 16. During his stay, he is expected to meet Jaishankar and other senior officials, and possibly National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Discussions will cover political, economic, and trade matters, consular services, exports of dry fruits, health sector cooperation, and ports management.

While a formal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not been confirmed, Muttaqi will receive full diplomatic protocol. His visit follows participation in the Russia-led “Moscow Format” dialogue on Afghanistan, reflecting Kabul’s efforts to engage with regional powers.